Brandon Hall

It has developed my management and leadership skills, helping my current career in football and my future career in whatever that may be. Personally it has helped me to become a lot more confident. Although the degree has been based online, I feel as though my communication with both students and colleagues at work has improved as a result of the degree.

Footballers are often deemed to be uneducated, so doing a degree that isn’t associated with sport, and succeeding in it, is very rewarding. I feel very proud of myself to have balanced a career in football and a successful degree.

I have learnt how different people respond to information or criticism. As a manager/leader this is crucial to success and avoiding confrontation. In a football environment I’ve found this extremely beneficial.

Being a distance learner, the online facilities and resources are very important. The ARU online facilities have been fantastic and have always run smoothly. Resources such as the University Library, have the majority of e-journals and e-books needed for a long reference list!

If you’re considering undertaking a course, do it! ARU is a friendly university, the staff are really helpful and the experience will develop you both personally and professionally.

I’d advise anyone who is in employment to study a work-based online degree at Anglia Ruskin because of its flexibility. Furthermore, it allows you to work towards a degree whilst gaining beneficial practical experience in your employment.

I have set myself targets to do little amounts of work often (one hour blasts of work fitting around my schedule, rather than four solid hours).

Plan your weekly/monthly schedule. Recognise days when you are unlikely to be able to study and identify hours in each day when you may need to work. Set targets as it can be easy to fall behind schedule.